Devon teen rides the wave to confidence in the water
From the 11th to 17th of March, pint-sized heroes are gearing up to champion the causes of two national charities – Tommy’s and Children’s Alliance. During ‘Splashathon’, little swimmers from across the nation will be conquering the pool one sponsored challenge at a time – no mean feat when you are between 12 weeks and four years old! With an ‘Oceans of Imagination’ theme, local swimmers hope to collect a sea of donations for parents and families in need.
Funds raised for Children’s Alliance will go to initiatives like The Wave Project, which improves children’s mental health and wellbeing through an award-winning Surf Therapy programme. Among the success stories is local 13-year-old Charlie James-Priddle, the adventurous surfer whose journey has been transformed by the therapeutic waves at beaches in Croyde and Westward Ho!, thanks to the generous contributions from events like Splashathon.
“Charlie was diagnosed with autism at the age of four,” said Anna James, Charlie’s mum. “After attending a small primary school with one-to-one support, when the time came for him to move on to secondary school, unfortunately, that same level of support wasn’t there. This resulted in a challenging nine-month period where he struggled in a large and noisy environment, hindering his access to lessons.
“During that period, the surfing sessions with The Wave Project North Devon couldn’t have come at a better time. Charlie began participating when he was 11, and even though he has completed his course, he continues attending sessions monthly and now owns his own surfboard! The volunteers at The Wave Project have a magical way of making you feel like a superstar. It became Charlie’s weekly highlight, providing a much-needed escape during the challenges of transitioning from primary school.
“I just loved seeing how incredible those volunteers are, taking time to help these kids. The sense of camaraderie and attention they cultivate during the sessions create such a positive and supportive environment for everyone involved. It warmed my heart so much that I decided to become a volunteer myself! Providing a space for other kids to be themselves, unwind from everyday stress and have a blast – just like Charlie did – is incredibly rewarding.”
Anna, having had her two children attend Water Babies and serving as Water Babies’ resident photographer – responsible for capturing over 30,000 portraits of babies in the pool – is well acquainted with the advantages of water-based activities for children.
“Charlie started swimming with Water Babies when he was four months old,” added Anna. “For those familiar with autism, you understand that the learning journey for these children can progress at a slower pace than others. Charlie’s path to becoming a confident swimmer has spanned 10 years, but Water Babies and his time in the water since have been invaluable for his development, coordination and fitness levels. Witnessing his achievements in both swimming and surfing fills me with so much pride.”
For years, Splashathon has served as Water Babies’ main fundraising event – dedicated to generating funds for Tommy’s and the Children’s Alliance who profoundly impact families across the country. Taking place in pools nationwide, children donning their brightest swim gear will take part in age-appropriate challenges – whether it be daring pool dives or front crawl competitions. Regardless of the activity, each one of them will be sponsored for a shared mission – ensuring children everywhere get the best start in life.
With the support of donations, Tommy’s is empowered to conduct over £2 million worth of ground-breaking research annually into the causes of miscarriage and stillbirth and contribute to enhancing maternity outcomes for families.
Children’s Alliance aims to raise funds for communities nationwide by offering essential resources such as swimming lessons, swimwear, transportation, and surfing lessons and championing various campaigns across Devon and the rest of the UK. These campaigns include advocating for universal free school meals, enhancing opportunities for free and imaginative play in Early Years, pushing for the presence of a trained emotional health leader in every secondary school, and promoting increased lifelong physical activity.
“We’re extremely grateful to Children’s Alliance for helping us reach more children like Charlie,” said Susie Croft, Interim CEO and Head of Fundraising at The Wave Project. “Yearly, we support around 2,000 children facing mental health challenges. We consistently witness improvements in self-esteem, positive thoughts, confidence, trust and friendship-building. Not only do we change lives but, in some cases, we save them too. For some, it can feel like the weight of the world is on their shoulders but, when they’re with us, they become children again, make friends, enjoy the feel of the water and learn new life skills.”
Anna and Charlie have certainly seen the benefits of these initiatives as they discover newfound freedom and confidence through the water. “I’m particularly grateful for organisations like Children’s Alliance and fundraising events like Splashathon, as they play a pivotal role in making these life-enriching opportunities like The Wave Project accessible for more children in Devon and nationwide,” said Anna.
For more information about Water Babies Bucks & Beds, visit: www.waterbabies.co.uk/lp/baby-swimming/bucks-and-beds
To donate to Anna and Charlie’s fundraiser for The Wave Project, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/anna-james-1707934957021